almost ready to give up but want to travel first

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Greetings! i am a picu nurse with 15 mos experience. i've been dissatisfied with my nursing career and i want to try something different before i give up on it. i have been thinking about travelling, however, i do not think i can travel to other picu's b/c my experience in icu hasn't been that great. i can take care of my patients with no problem, but i'm not a strong icu nurse. more of an "excellent floor nurse" is what i was told i am. i just don't handle the chaos and seriousness of icu patients. but i've floated to floor nursing assignments with no problems. do you guys think i would be able to do med-surg travelling or should i retire my nursing career? i really don't want to give up yet.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Peds, Ortho, LTC and MORE.

Most travel assignments have these requirements: Must have a minimum of 2- 3 years PICU experience, RN license for the state which the work is in, BLS, and PALS.

Even if you wished to do Med/Surg traveling, you would need at least 2 years Med/Surg experience, that can be verified.

Best advice is that you stay and get that 2 years of experience where you are now, and then branch out into traveling. You say you have 15 months now, in 9 more months that would make you have the bare minimum that agencies and facillities are seeking when looking for a traveler nurse.

In the mean-time, look at working with a local per diem agency, to see if you might like that type of nursing.

Good Luck

Reigen

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If you want med/surg apply to a different floor get your 2years and you will be happier and better prepared to travel.

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